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English lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes

How do characters respond when things happen?

Reading Comprehension

CCSS RL.2.3England: Y2 ReadingEngland: KS1 SATs Reading (inference)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: How do characters respond when things happen?.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Who is speaking? Reading dialogue; Characters and setting

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Who is speaking? Reading dialogue; Characters and setting). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Owl hooted, "Who is there?" "It is only me," squeaked Mouse. Who squeaked? (Mouse / Owl / a cat / nobody) → MousePrompt: Find the words inside the speech marks.
  2. Rex the dog hid under the table every time it thundered. How does Rex feel about thunder? (happy / brave / bored / scared) → scaredPrompt: What does the character say and do?
  3. "Please don't turn off the light," whispered Max. "The shadows look like monsters." How does Max feel? (happy / angry / scared / proud) → scaredPrompt: Find the words inside the speech marks.

Hook · 5 min

  • Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
  • Share the objective: How do characters respond when things happen?. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: When the lights went out in the storm, Gran lit a candle and said, "Who wants to hear a story?" How does Gran respond to the power cut?
  • Step 1: A character's response is what they do, say or feel when something happens.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: She stays calm and tells a story.
  • Answer: She stays calm and tells a story.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. The puppy hid under the table during the fireworks. Ben lay down next to it and stroked it gently. How does Ben respond to the scared puppy? (He goes to watch the fireworks. / He comforts it. / He laughs at it. / He shouts at it.) → He comforts it.Prompt: Find the event first: what happened?
  2. When the tower of blocks fell down, Mia took a deep breath and started building it again, even bigger. What does this tell us about Mia? (She is lazy. / She is unkind. / She hates blocks. / She does not give up easily.) → She does not give up easily.Prompt: Think about why the character acts that way.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Tom's sister spilled paint on his picture. He frowned, then smiled and turned the splodge into a dragon. How does Tom respond to the paint spill? (He turns the mistake into something new. / He tears up the picture. / He stops painting forever. / He spills paint on her picture.) → He turns the mistake into something new.Prompt: Find the event first: what happened?
  2. Every morning, Jamal checks that the class fish has food and its water is clean, even though it is not his job. What does this tell us about Jamal? (He is lazy. / He is forgetful. / He is caring and responsible. / He is greedy.) → He is caring and responsible.Prompt: Think about why the character acts that way.

Watch out for

  • Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
  • Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Who is speaking? Reading dialogue.
  • Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-2.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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How do characters respond when things happen?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    The new boy sat alone at lunch. Rafi picked up his tray, walked over and asked, "Can I sit here?" What does this tell us about Rafi?

    • A. He is shy.
    • B. He is bossy.
    • C. He is friendly and kind.
    • D. He is greedy.

  2. Question 2

    Tom's sister spilled paint on his picture. He frowned, then smiled and turned the splodge into a dragon. How does Tom respond to the paint spill?

    • A. He turns the mistake into something new.
    • B. He spills paint on her picture.
    • C. He tears up the picture.
    • D. He stops painting forever.

  3. Question 3

    When the tower of blocks fell down, Mia took a deep breath and started building it again, even bigger. What does this tell us about Mia?

    • A. She is lazy.
    • B. She hates blocks.
    • C. She does not give up easily.
    • D. She is unkind.

  4. Question 4

    The new boy sat alone at lunch. Rafi picked up his tray, walked over and asked, "Can I sit here?" How does Rafi respond to seeing the new boy alone?

    • A. He laughs at him.
    • B. He tells the teacher.
    • C. He ignores him.
    • D. He goes to sit with him.

  5. Question 5

    Every morning, Jamal checks that the class fish has food and its water is clean, even though it is not his job. What does this tell us about Jamal?

    • A. He is forgetful.
    • B. He is caring and responsible.
    • C. He is lazy.
    • D. He is greedy.

  6. Question 6

    When the tower of blocks fell down, Mia took a deep breath and started building it again, even bigger. How does Mia respond to the tower falling?

    • A. She tries again.
    • B. She cries and goes home.
    • C. She blames her friend.
    • D. She gives up.

  7. Question 7

    When Ella lost the race, she shook the winner's hand and said, "Well done! You were so fast." What does this tell us about Ella?

    • A. She is very slow.
    • B. She is a sore loser.
    • C. She is a good sport.
    • D. She is rude.

  8. Question 8

    The puppy hid under the table during the fireworks. Ben lay down next to it and stroked it gently. How does Ben respond to the scared puppy?

    • A. He shouts at it.
    • B. He goes to watch the fireworks.
    • C. He comforts it.
    • D. He laughs at it.

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Answer key: How do characters respond when things happen?

  1. 1. C. He is friendly and kind.

  2. 2. A. He turns the mistake into something new.

  3. 3. C. She does not give up easily.

  4. 4. D. He goes to sit with him.

  5. 5. B. He is caring and responsible.

  6. 6. A. She tries again.

  7. 7. C. She is a good sport.

  8. 8. C. He comforts it.